Mixing apparatus



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,444,910- J. F. GOETZ MIXING APPARATUS 2 shets- Filed Feb. 20, 1922 est 1 Feb, 13, 1923. 9?

MIXING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20,

1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 EIn-ucnfoz Patented Feb. 13, 1%23.

JOBEPH; E. GOE'IZ, OF DAYTON, 0310.

MIXING APPARATUS.

Application aiea February 2c, 1922. Serial in. 587,762. 7

To all whom-ifmayconcclw:

Be it known that I. Joseru F. (loi-i'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton. in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new aml useful Improvements in Mixing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. 4

My invention relates to mechanical agitators and more particularly to not only an apparatus for mechanically stirring liquids or semi-liquid materials. but to means for automatically elevating or lifting the heavier and more dense portions oi the material and discharging it at a high level simultaneously with the stirring operation.

The invention contemplates an apparatus to be inserted within a vessel such as a paint bucket for which the head of the agitating apparatus will form a lid or closure, from which closure head depends rotary agitators or stirrers, and in conjunction therewith a spiral or helical elevator, the lower convolution of which extends in close proximity to the bottom of the vessel or bucket and is sutliciently enlarged radially to extend beneath the stirrer or agitator to approximately the side walls of the vessel whereby the lower extremity of such elevator will serve somewhat in a capacity of a scraper for loosening and collecting the heavy dense matter. and carrying it upwardly through the spiral conveyor for discharge near the top of the vessel, where it will be thoroughly 3'5 intermixed with the less dense liquid by the agitation of the stirring elements.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of stirring and agitating apparatus whereby it will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efiicient in use. positive'in action, uniform in operation, easily operated and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for mechanically lifting solid or dense portions of a mixture and discharging the same in proximity to the agitating devices.

A further object of the invention isto provide improved means for actuating such agitating or stirring mechanism whereby every portion of the body of material operated upon will be uniformly affected.

With the above primary ,and other in'ci dental objects in view as will more.v fully ofFig.4:. I

vLike. parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several appeal" in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the

parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation, or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

'In the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown the preferred, but obviously-not necessarily the only forms of embodiment-of the invention, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vessel or receptacle having, the apparatus forming the subject matter hereof applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view substantially on. line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking downward. issimilar sectional view looking-upwardly oras a bottom plan view of theadriving mechanism. i

Fig.- 4 is a'side'elevationofam'odified form of the apparatus. Fig.5 fisatransverse sectional plan view substantially on line 5- 5 views.

lVhen many materials such as paint and coloring matter in solutionlas well as various chemical preparationsand mixtures of semi-liquid character are allowed to set for protracted periods of time, the heavier or more. dense ingredients'not held in solution have a tendency to settle to the bottom of the container or'receptacle forming therein a semi-solid or plastic body. while the lighter or more fluid portions of the mixture will rise to the top of the vessel. .When remixing such material for'use a'mere stirring of the liquid portion is not always suflicient to thoroughly intermix the solid material, and the mere agitation of the liquid isfnot sufiicient to break up and cause a circulation of the heavier particles through the entire body. I The present apparatus-is designed to collect and mechanically elevate this heavier portion of the mixture, discharging it? near the top of the vessel at'a high'level and in proximity to the agitators whereby it will be thoroughly stirredand intermixed to afford a liquid or mixture of uniform density throughout. a

vessel or receptacle such'as a'standard paint bucket; The a itatin and mixing apgiamounted upon aclosure plate 2 adapted. to

ratus forming the sub ect matter liereo overlie the top of the vessel or receptacle 1 andto which is united a dependent circular housing 3, which projects within the. vessel or receptacle 1, serving to locate the agitating apparatus concentrically therein and also prevent splashing or'escape of. the mixture beneath the closure; plate 2. Secured to the closure plate 2 is an arched shaped bar 1, which not only forms a support and bearing for thedrive shaft 5, but also serves as a handle or bail to facilitate the insertion of the apparatus in a bucket or\yessel of paintor other commodity and its removal therefrom.

f bearing in a strut 6, interposed between the closure plate 2 and the bail-or handle bar 1. Thedriveshaft 5 has beenxshown provided with an operating crank 7 at its outer end, but it is obvious that in lieu of manual operation this shaft may be provided with a drive pulley for operative connection with a power motor. At its inner end the shaft 5 carries a bevel pinion 8 intermeshing with a second gear Pinion 9, upon the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 10. This shaft 10 is journalled in the closure plate 2, and

' the bottom wall of the housing 3, and carries within, the housing 3 fixedly secured upon shaft a cross arm 11.

Stationarily secured upon the inner or bottom face of the closure plate 2 by riveting or otherwise is a stationary spur gear ring 12, positioned concentrically with theshaft 10.

This stationary gear member 12comprises one member of a planetary gear train, the planetary pinions of which. are mounted upon the upper ends of agitator shafts 1.4:, journalled in the outer end of the cross arm 11, in such relation that the planetary pinion 13 intermesh with the stationary gear member 12. The construction is such that I as the shaft 10 is rotated by means of the drive shaft 5, and with it the cross arm 11 the intermeshing engagement of the planetary pinion 13 with the gear 12 will efiect a slmultaneous rotation of the agitator shafts 14 about their own axis simultaneously with their travel in their orbit around increase the agitation these stirring frames or agitators 15 have been shown provided with spaced holes 16. The frames are connected to turn with the shaft 14, as for instance by transverse cotter pins 17 or other suitable interconnecting means.

The drive shaft 5 has a secondinseam Carried upon the main shaft 10 inter mediate the agitator frame 15, is a helical or spiral elevator comprising an enlarged head portion, 18, in this instance of duplex character, comprising two sector like portions '18, the advance edges 19 of which are deflected downwardly to extend into proximity to the bottom of the vessel and function as scrapers or collectors for the heavy dense or partially solidified material. Theradial extent ofthe head 18 is almost equal to that of the vessel or receptacle 1. This stantially) the entire bottom of the vessel, extending eneath the agitators or stirrers 15.

collecting and elevating dev1ce' covers sub-,

The agitator. shafts 1 1 are preferably provided with bearin s for their lower ends tion, or almost diametrically opposite the scraping or collecting head 19. Attached to the head portion 18 of the elevator intermediate the advance collecting edges 19, and

the point of engagement of the agitator shafts 14, and extending upwardly and 'helically therefrom are two tapered or evolute conveyor blades 20. These blades are supported further by a transverse interconnecting tie 21, which surrounds and connects them w1th the shaft 10. In the drawings,

these blades have been shown arrangedq'uite steeply or upon along pitch. It will be understood that the pitch of the blades may be varied according to-the character of the material, or the conditions of use to which the apparatus is to be adapted. It is to be noted that while the radius of the spiral conveyor or elevator is comparatively small at the top being substantially half the radius of the field of action of the agitator or stirrers 15, the helical elevator or conveyor blades gradually widen downwardly merging into the head 18, which covers substantially the full area of the bottom of the receptacle. The material collected from the bottomof the receptacle by the head 18, will be forced upwardly by the rotation of the helical blades, which due to their gradually narrowing radius will progressively feed the collected material into the surrounding liquid, the distribution being uniformly carried on throughout the length of the spiral. This discharge from the conveyor being in close proximity to the rotating agitators 15,

the material will be thoroughly mixed and any unmixed particles which then settle to the bottom will be recollected and again carried upwardly, and discharged from the spiral conveyor into the vortex of the whirling agitators. As before mentioned these agitators not only rotate upon their own axis, but are constantly traveling in a circular path around the spiral conveyor, so

. Laaaew that every portion of the body of liquid is thorou hly agitated.

In ig. 4 there is-shown a modification of the construction heretofore described,

whereby in lieuof'the planetary action of theagitators or stirrers, these members rotate upon fixed axes, while the spiral elevators which in this instance is shown as a single evolute helix havin'g but one collecting or scrapping edge is shown as of much shorter pitch.

Referring to Fi 4 wherein the vessel or receptacle 1 receives and supports the apparatus mounted upon the closure plate 2,

to which is attache the scale or arch sha )ed bar 4 as before described, the closure p ate 2 is provided with a second arched bar 22 of less height than the arch orv bail 4 and arranged at right angles or transversely thereto. The stirrer shafts 23 are journalled in this frame bar 22, and the closer lid 2, as is also the main shaft 24.v The main shaft 24 carries on its upper'end a double faced gear having a series ofspur gear teeth 25 with which mesh the gears 26, upon the stirrer shaft23, and also a second series of bevel gear teeth.27, with which meshes the driving gear pinion 8 upon the drive shaft 5.

\Vhi le any suitable form of blade, pad dle, spirals, 'fingers or other stirring elements may be. mounted upon the agitator shaft 23 the same'type'of'frame like agi-' tator has been shown inthis-view as previously described. These agitator frames 15 rotate with the shaft 23, but in this construction retain their relative positions'within the vessel 1. instead of traveling in a circular path. -While only two of these agitator shafts 23, and carrying members 15 have beenshown in Fig. 4 it will obvious that any number ofthese devices may be located indifferent radial positions, about the central or main shaft 2.4, with their driving gear pinions 26 intermeshing with the central gear 25. Mounted upon the main shaft 24, is the evolute helical conveyor28,'

the radius of which gradually reduces 'pphe lower or large end of this conveyor extends in close proximity to the bottom of 1 the vessel or bucket 1 and collects the heavy particlesof material carrying them upward inthe conveyor and distributing them gradually throughout their path oftravel. The distributed or discharged heavyv particles are caught in thevortek of one of the adjacent agitators 1'5, andfthoroughly inter mixed with the solvent liquidg In-this particular construction the agitator shafts 23," have been shown dependent within the 'ves-r' sell fromjthe closure lidl2, but without) any support or connectionfat theirzlower' end. whereas in'the construction'shown in Fig. they are interconnected with the sion. products having asemi-solid precipate, the

. spiral tmnveyors, and so supported at their lower extremity. v

The helical elevator will have a boring or auger like action, but which will cut into and break up the solidified or semisolid materials, in the bottom of the vessel. To facilitate this action the radial edge of the lowermost convolution of the elevator is sharpened or is of reduced thickness to afford a cuttin action. While paints and other such pro ucts will separate when left standing for long periods of time, the lead being precipitated to the bottom of the vessel, and the oil rising to the top, other roducts such as wall tints containing ithopone are much more diflicult to remix than are paint. This is due to the fact that while lithopone is not so heavy as the lead contained in the paint, it Wlll solidify or cake much more harder in the bottom of the vessel. The helical elevator has a scraping or cutting action-upon such deposits. thereby sub-dividing the solid or semi-solid mass. These. portions raised by the elevator are then beaten and further broken up or pulverizedby the rotary mixer until such precipitate is again held in a state of suspen- In the case of paint'and other like elevator will cut or separate this into portions easily acted upon by the agitators or mi'xers.

ith the ordinary process of stirring paint by means of a paddle, such precipitate forms a stickymass or ball, which is quite difficult to separate and redistribute through the liquid. This difliculty is overcome by the present device.

In view of the fact that when the precipitate is solidified or in a semi-solid condition. the apparatus can not be at once inserted to the full depth of the vessel, the lid or cover portion has been shown provided with a deep dependent flange 29. This flange 29 Will project within the walls of the vessel when the apparatus is in its initial elevated position, and resting upon the deposit in the bottom of the vessel. As the apparatus is operated, and the elevator performs its auger like cutting or boring action upon the caked or solidified precipitate. the apparatus is progressively lowered Within the vessel until ultimately the elevator operates in close proximity to the bottom of the vessel as shown in the drawings- The dependent lid flange 29 is of such length as to form. an efl'ective closure with the apparatus in various stages'of elevation.

' From the above description it will be ap- Y e l9 amcer "d c i e possessing the' 'jparticulaig.features:of; advantage before enumerated as desirable, but. which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions. detail construction and arrangement. ofparts I without departing.

parent that there islthus, provided a defrom the principle involved or sacrificing anyvpif its advantages.

ile in order to comply with the statute 4 the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, y

T in any of its forms or modifications withsaid scraper in the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having 'thus described my invention, I

claim: 1. In an agitating apparatus, to be suspended in a vessel, a lid for the vessel, acentrally disposed helical elevator, suspended from said lid, a plurality of. rotary mixers suspended from-the lid in difierent radial positions eccentric in relation with the helical elevator, and means for simultaneously rotating the elevator and said mixers to elevate the dense material from the bottom of the vessel by the action of the helical elevator and agitating such material as it is discharged from the elevator by the rotation of the mixers.

2. In an agitating apparatus to be suspended in a vessel, a supporting structure forming a cover for the vessel, a tapered helical conveyor suspended from said cover,

the lower convolution of which extends into proximit to the bottom of the vessel, and collects the precipitated dense material, the convolutions of the helical elevator progressively decreasing in diameter in an upwardly direction whereby the material collected by the lowermost convolution is progressively discharged at different elevations, and means for actuating the elevator.

3. In an agitating apparatus to be mounted in a vessel, a supporting structure, a centrally disposed revoluble shaft, a scraper head carried at the lower end of the shaft and o crating over substantially the full area 0 the bot-tom of the vessel, and a continuous helical conveyor carried by the shaft adapted to elevate the material collected by head from the bottom of. the vessel,'said conveyor being caused to progressively distribute at various elevations the material collected.

' 4:. In an agitating apparatus to be positioned in a vessel, a supporting structure, a helical elevator extendingwithin the vessel, and adaptedto elevate the dense portions of material from the bottom of the vessel, and auxiliary mixers rotating upon axes eccentric with said elevator the field of action of which intercepts that of the elevator and causes currents of material to pass interchangeably from the elevator to the vortex of the mixer and vice versa to a itate the material discharged from theelevator, and

means for simultaneously actuating the elevator and mixers.

5. In an agitating apparatus to be suspended in a vessel, a supporting structure orming a cover for the vessel, a helical elevator suspended within the vessel -prortioned and arranged to discharge at diferent levels the dense material collected from the bottom of the vessel, and auxiliary agitators mounted for rotation in proximity to the elevator for agitating the discharged material, and means for simultaneously a c-' tuating the elevator and mixers.

6. In an agitating apparatus of the character described, the combination with a, vessel of means insertable within the vessel for inducing a central upwardly directed current of material to be agitated and stirring elements positioned eccentrically in, relation with the centrally disposed rising current, inducing-a descending vortex having constantintermingling communication with the upwardly directed current, whereby material is drawn fom levels.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, means insertablewithin'a vessel for collecting material from the lower of the vessel and conveying it upwar ly and mixers, the field of operation of which intercepts' that of the collecting and conveyin means for agitating the elevated materia one to'the other, at various upon its release from said collecting and conveying means.

8. In an agitating apparatus, an elevator insertable centrally within a vessel, 2. plurality of rotary mixers located eccentrically in relation with said conveyor and means for actuating the elevator and simultaneously transmitting planetary motion to the mixers whereby said mixers will move in an orbit about the elevator simultaneously with their rotation about their own axes 9. In an agitating apparatus to be mount-- portion simultaneously actuating the elevator and mixers.

11. In an agitating apparatus, a helical elevator adapted to progressively discharge at difierent levels, and a mixer eccentrically positioned in relation with the elevator adapted to agitate the discharge material and means for simultaneously rotating the elevator and mixer.

12. In an agitating apparatus, a centrally disposed helical elevator, a transverse arm carried by the elevator, rotary mixers mounted in said arm, gear pinions carried by said mixers, and a stationary gear member with which the mixer gears intermesh whereby upon rotation of the helical elevator, the mixers will be simultaneously rotated while being carried in a path of travel concentric with the elevator.

13. In an agitating apparatus to be mounted in a vessel, two revoluble elements eccentrically mounted for rotation about substantially parallel axes, one of which forms an ascending vortex and the other a descending vortex the fields of influence of which overlap whereby material will pass from one vortex to the other at various eletions, and means for rotating said elements.

14. In an agitating apparatus of the character described, a rotary elevator and a rotary mixer eccentrically positioned in such relation that their vortices will intercept each other whereby a continuous distribution of material will be induced from the elevator to the mixer throughout a considerable extent of the elevator, and means for simultaneously rotating the elevator and mixer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February A.'D. 1922.

JOSEPH F. GOETZ. Witnesses:

HARRY F. NoLAN, GEORGE C. HELWIG. 

